Be Still and Know Daily Bible Devotion

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Bring some Spirit-filled peace into your hectic schedule every weekday morning with this new Daily Devotional.

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Today · 2 min
August 12th - Acts 10:44-45
Acts 10:44-45 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. This has often been described as the Gentile Pentecost. When the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples in Jerusalem, it was on the occasion of a major Jewish festival. But Jesus made it clear that the good news belonged to the whole world, so it was necessary for it to be firmly established that the Holy Spirit was poured out upon non-Jews. That’s exactly what happened here, to the great astonishment of the Jewish believers who had accompanied Peter. Peter had already learned that God has no favourites and that the doors had been flung open to non-Jews. However, there were many Jews who still struggled to believe that God would do such a thing. The book of Acts tells us how the good news of Jesus moved from its Jewish beginnings in Jerusalem all the way to Rome at the heart of the mighty Roman empire. It wasn’t a simple or straightforward journey, but ultimately nothing could stop the progress of the gospel because it belonged to the whole world. As we meet people today, we need to remind ourselves that the good news is God’s message of love to everyone. His desire is to pour out His Holy Spirit on everyone. Question What would it look like if God poured out His Spirit on the people you meet today? Prayer Lord God, I open my heart to Your Holy Spirit. Give me your wisdom and strength as I live for You today. Amen
Yesterday · 2 min
August 11th - Acts 10:34-36
Acts 10:34-36 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realise how true it is that God does not show favouritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.” This might not sound revolutionary, but we need to understand that Peter’s world had just been turned upside down. He had been brought up with the Old Testament idea that it was only the people of Israel whom God had chosen to be a special people. The Jews had been given very clear rules about what they should and shouldn’t eat. However, Peter had just had a vision in which he had been told to do the unthinkable. He’d seen a large sheet containing all kinds of four-footed animals, reptiles and birds and had been told to eat any of them. His response was exactly the right one for any Jew: he said no. But then the voice said to him, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” This happened three times, and then the penny dropped. God was telling him that the good of news of Jesus was no longer limited to the Jews. The doors had been flung open to the world. The Christian Church must always have its doors open to everyone. That’s what Jesus came to do. The moment we confine it to a narrow group of people, we have fundamentally missed the point. Question Is your church welcoming to every kind of person? If not, what could you do to make it so? Prayer Lord Jesus, thank you that Your arms are always open to everyone. Amen
Monday · 2 min
August 10th - Acts 10:1-2
Acts 10:1-2 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. Cornelius is a fascinating character. He wasn’t a Jew and neither was he a follower of Jesus. He was a God-fearer, and the most positive things are said about him. He was generous, prayerful and willing that God should use him on this crucial mission to meet up with Peter (v5). Peter was a faithful Jew and struggled to imagine that God could work outside the Jewish nation. Cornelius was going to be the means of helping Peter to see God’s greater plans. It’s interesting that centurions occur on a number of occasions during Jesus’ ministry. It was the centurion on duty for Jesus’ crucifixion who concluded: “Surely he was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:54). When I was young, I got the impression that there were two kinds of people: people who loved God and others who hated Him. But it’s not as simple as that. The Bible introduces us to many people who were not signed-up believers, yet in whose lives God was powerfully at work. Let’s give thanks that God is at work in the lives of many people who know nothing of the Bible or Jesus. We will definitely want to share with them the good news of Jesus, but we shouldn’t be surprised when we find that God is already working in their lives. Question Can you think of anyone you know who is not yet a Christian, but in whose life God is clearly at work? Prayer Dear Lord, thank you that You are at work in so many people’s lives. Amen
Sunday · 2 min
August 9th - Psalm 127:1
Psalm 127:1 Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labour in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. The psalmist isn’t merely talking about house building in this famous psalm. He is talking about everything we build – a life, relationship, family, organisation, city or society. There is no point in building anything without God, because it is bound to fail. Throughout the Bible we are introduced to people who tried to go it alone. Adam and Eve are the supreme examples, but they were in fact merely setting the pace for a succession of people who felt they knew better than God and who tried to build their lives without Him. Jesus’ teaching about the vine is very similar to this verse. He concludes “apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). We simply weren’t created by God to act independently of Him. It doesn’t work. This psalm is entitled a psalm of Solomon, and he was supremely a builder. He had the privilege of building the awesome temple in Jerusalem and, at first, things went well. However, he didn’t remain faithful to God and was particularly disobedient in his sex life. God had warned him that he shouldn’t marry foreign wives because they might turn his heart away from God, and that’s exactly what happened, with disastrous consequences for him and the kingdom. The point is clear. We need to make sure we invite God to be the builder of our lives from day one, and then make sure that we keep close to Him as we continue to build. Question What does Solomon’s life teach you? Prayer Loving Father, thank you that You love me so much that You want to bless every part of my life. Amen
Saturday · 2 min
August 8th - Psalm 126:5-6
Psalm 126:5-6 Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them. If you know anything about farming, you will know that it is hard work, but just imagine how incredibly tough it was in the psalmist’s day without the help of modern machinery. Planting was back-breaking work, but year by year the farmer would sow his seed with the confidence of knowing that, one day, there would be a harvest. We cannot be sure, but it seems as if this psalm was written in celebration of the return from exile. After years in Babylon, the people finally had the opportunity to return to their homeland. They’d had a tough time but now, at last, they were able to return to their beloved Jerusalem. Of course, we would all choose to avoid the tears and struggles. We would like to find a quick route to blessing, and if we find one, we shouldn’t turn it down! However, experience shows that normally the times of restoration and blessing follow after times of challenge and difficulty. Perhaps that was what was in James’ mind when he wrote: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance” (James 1:2-3). Question What experience do you have of sowing in tears and reaping with joy? Prayer Lord God, thank you that You are with me all the time and that as I pass through tough times, I can be completely confident that You will bring me to a place of blessing and restoration. Amen
Friday · 2 min
August 7th - Psalm 125:1-2
Psalm 125:1-2 Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore. I love these Psalms of Ascent, which the pilgrims used as they travelled to Jerusalem. In this particular psalm, we almost get the feeling that we are travelling with them as they gaze at the mountains around Jerusalem. Even the mountains themselves spoke to them of the security that they had in God. I don’t find it surprising that Christians throughout the centuries have found pilgrimages helpful as a way of encouraging them to focus on God. The psalmists were always incredibly honest about the threats of life. There never seemed to be a shortage of enemies, and there were also internal threats and doubts. However, the psalmists were confident of their God, and time and again they spoke about God as their rock, fortress and high tower. The threats might have been real and scary, but God was always stronger. I am repeatedly struck by the speed with which people’s lives can change. It might be a heart attack, a road accident, a business collapse or the breakdown of a relationship. However strong one might be, such challenges are shaking moments. They test whether our foundations are secure or not. The psalmists’ world would have looked completely different from our own, and yet we share a similar need to be secure. We need to know that when the worst happens, God will still be by our side. Question In what ways does God’s security bless your life? Prayer Lord God, I thank you that You are my rock and that I can always be confident in You, however tough life might be. Amen
Thursday · 2 min
August 6th - Psalm 124:8
Psalm 124:8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. I wonder if you ever have “what if” conversations. You know the sort of thing: “What if I’d had a different career? What if I’d gone to a different school? What if we’d moved to a different town?” In this psalm, David reflected on an even bigger question: “What if the Lord had not been on our side?” As the pilgrims made their way up to Jerusalem, he encouraged them to think about how terrible life would have been without God. It might seem a strange thing to do, but perhaps all of us, from time to time, should stand back from life and just imagine what it would be like if God had not been with us. This should fuel two responses. Firstly, it should strengthen our gratitude for all that God has done for us. It is so easy for us to take God for granted, especially if we have been Christians for many years. But there is a second reason why it is good to have “what if” thoughts: they can help us to focus our thoughts and prayers on those around us who do not know the Lord. They live their days without the security of knowing God’s love and care. Let’s allow our “what if” thinking to spur us in our prayers for them. Question What would your life be like if you hadn’t given your life to Christ? Prayer Loving God, thank you for the security that You have given me, for time and eternity. Amen
August 5 · 2 min
August 5th - Acts 9:27
Acts 9:27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. Friends are a precious gift, and we all need them. Saul found himself in a delicate position when he visited Jerusalem for the first time after his conversion and he desperately needed a really good friend. His visit came a couple of years after his encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus, and many people in Jerusalem would have remembered what kind of man he used to be. Barnabas took it upon himself to introduce Saul to the apostles. This was a crucial moment and Barnabas, whose name meant son of encouragement, was just the friend Saul needed. We all face difficult times in life, and those are the moments that reveal who our true friends are. The fair-weather friends rush for cover at such times. They are nowhere to be seen. However, true friends stand with us whatever the circumstances. I’m sure you, like me, can immediately think of people who have shown that kind of solid friendship. The most wonderful example of friendship in the Bible was between David and Jonathan. They lived with constant danger and appalling pressures but, right to the end, they were completely faithful to one another. Thank God for the amazing gift of friendship! Question In what ways have friends been a blessing in your life? Prayer Loving God, help me to be like Barnabas by being faithful and encouraging to my friends. Amen
August 4 · 2 min
August 4th - Acts 9:17
Acts 9:17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said: “Brother Saul, the Lord – Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here – has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” I consider this to be one of the most moving sentences in the whole of the Bible. Ananias had been asked by God to go and meet Saul. He was fully aware of Saul’s reputation and was bound to think that there must be some mistake, but the Lord informed him that Saul had been appointed to take the gospel to the non-Jewish world. In obedience to the Lord, and with considerable courage, Ananias headed off to the house on Straight Street, placed his hands on Saul and called him brother. How amazing! The story of Saul’s conversion should be a warning to us all not to put a limit on what God can do. I invite you to think of people you know who are completely dismissive of Christian faith. Perhaps they laugh at you for your faith or think of it as just a lot of sentimental nonsense. It is very tempting to assume that it is a waste of time sharing our faith with them, and that we should focus our attention on the people who show some interest. I suggest that we need to pray for everyone we know – God loves everyone and invites them all to follow Him, however antagonistic they may be. Question Are you willing to share your Christian faith with people who are opposed to it? Prayer Dear Father, thank you that You are a God of miracles and want to welcome everyone to Yourself. Amen
August 3 · 2 min
August 3rd - Acts 9:3
Acts 9:3 As Saul neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. Saul was a deeply committed Jew and his mission was quite simply to destroy the Church. He was acting with the authority of the high priest in Jerusalem to search out any followers of Jesus and take them as prisoners. But suddenly everything changed as he travelled on the road to Damascus. A brilliant light flashed around him and he heard a voice asking: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (v 4). Saul was familiar enough with the scriptures to know that this must be God, and he asked: “Who are you, Lord?” The reply was not the one he wanted to hear. He was sure there was nothing in this new-fangled Jesus religion. How shocked he must have been to hear the voice saying: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” We know the rest. We know that this moment changed everything. Saul’s life was turned upside down and inside out. He would never be the same again, and neither would the Church. Most of us will never have had an experience quite like Saul’s. If you have, I am delighted for you and praise God for this blessing, but for most people, coming to faith in Christ is a slow and gradual process which often takes place over a number of years through spending time with Christians and learning more about God. Whether your experience has been sudden or gradual, meeting with God is a miracle, and we need to praise Him for it. Question How did you come to faith in Christ? Prayer Dear Lord, thank you that You meet with me in all sorts of ways, and that You want to walk with me today. Amen
August 2 · 3 min
August 2nd - Acts 7:59-60
Acts 7:59-60 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. Stephen was one of the seven men who were appointed to handle the distribution of food to the widows. Chapter 7 reveals that he was also a very fine preacher. He delivered a careful exposition of Old Testament history, which showed that God had repeatedly raised up deliverers of His people and the Jews had systematically rejected them. Now, they had murdered the righteous one, Jesus Himself. The sermon did not go down well. Stephen’s Jewish audience was infuriated and shook their fists at him. They covered their ears, yelled at the top of their voices and rushed at him, dragging him out of the city where they stoned him to death. He was the first Christian martyr. As he died, Stephen used words that remind us of what Jesus had said as He’d breathed His last. However, his words were interestingly different. Jesus had placed Himself in His Father’s hands, and now Stephen asked Jesus to receive his spirit. He clearly recognised that Jesus was God Himself. His final words were to ask the Lord not to charge his murderers with their sin. They were words of mercy and grace, which are further evidence of how wise and full of the Holy Spirit Stephen was. Question What do you learn from Stephen’s example? Prayer Lord God our Father, I pray today for those who risk their lives out of their love for You. Fill them with Your Spirit and give them the strength to face every challenge. Amen
August 1 · 2 min
August 1st - Acts 6:1
Acts 6:1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. From time to time, every human organisation will experience rumblings of discontent. They are simply a part of life; exhausting but inevitable. It isn’t open warfare, but it isn’t something that can be brushed to one side either. The problem on this occasion was a practical one, and it was clearly causing great unhappiness. The church in Jerusalem was composed of Jews from different backgrounds. Some of them had always lived in the Jerusalem area and spoke Hebrew or Aramaic, but there were others who were from neighbouring countries and largely spoke Greek. Some of the latter had come to live in Jerusalem towards the end of their lives and were far from their families, so they were particularly vulnerable. The response of the apostles gives us a good model as to how to handle rumblings of discontent. Firstly, they acted quickly. So often, in my experience, people live with the hope that if they ignore a problem, it will go away. This very rarely happens. The action they took was to appoint seven people to oversee the distribution of the food, to ensure that fairness prevailed. The crucial qualifications that these people had was being full of wisdom and the Holy Spirit. Question Why is it so crucial that Church work should be done by people who are full of wisdom and the Holy Spirit? Prayer Lord God our Father, help me to be wise whenever I need to respond to rumblings of discontent. Fill me with Your Spirit as I serve You. Amen
July 31 · 2 min
July 31st - Acts 5:38-39
Acts 5:38-39 Gamaliel said: “I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” The success of Peter and John’s healing and preaching ministry was deeply irritating to the Jewish authorities. They were anxious to silence the apostles, but nothing seemed to be working. They tried imprisoning them, but even that didn’t work, as the apostles miraculously managed to escape and carry on their preaching ministry in the temple. So, once again, they were hauled before the Jewish leaders. Gamaliel was one of the most prominent rabbis of the time and was greatly respected by everyone. He suggested that it would be wise not to take action against the apostles for the simple reason that if the new movement was not of God, it would fizzle out anyway. The decision was to flog the apostles and let them go. Wise Gamaliel got it right. It is impossible to stop God. Take China as an example. In 1960, there were about 1 million Christians in the country. During the Cultural Revolution from 1966 to 1976, thousands of Christians were imprisoned and subjected to humiliation, but the Church was merely driven underground, and since that time it has grown enormously. It’s impossible to know how many Christians there are in China today, but it is likely to be about 100 million! When God is at work it is impossible to stop Him, however hard people try. Question In what way do Gamaliel’s words encourage you? Prayer I praise You loving God that ultimately no one can stand in the way of Your plans. Amen
July 30 · 2 min
July 30th - Acts 5:1-2
Acts 5:1-2 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. This is a chilling story. Ananias and Sapphira were not obliged to give all the money from their property sale to the apostles, but they made the false claim that they had done so. They lied. They conspired together to trick the apostles and the result was that, when confronted with their lies, they both, one after the other, dropped dead. Given that everything seemed to have been going so well for the infant Church, this must have been a shattering moment. No wonder Dr Luke concluded the story by saying that great fear gripped the Church and everyone else who heard what had happened. Lying is always serious. Facing up to what we have done may be painful, but massaging the truth for our own convenience is always destructive. It undermines trust, and a relationship that is built on lies cannot possibly last long. Above all, we need to be truthful in our relationship with God. Nothing could possibly be more foolish than lying to Him, because He already knows the whole truth about us. However, amazingly, if we are willing to confess our sins, He is always willing to forgive us. This chilling account of Ananias and Sapphira’s deaths doesn’t need to worry us if we stick to the truth. But if we don’t, then their story is a timely warning. Question Have you ever struggled to tell the truth? Prayer Lord God, I own up to the fact that I have sinned. Thank you that You are willing to set me free from my sins. Amen
July 29 · 2 min
July 29th - Acts 4:29-30
Acts 4:29-30 “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” Having been ordered by the Jewish council to keep quiet, Peter and John returned to their Christian friends to update them. Their response was to pray, and what a beautiful prayer it is. You would have understood if they had asked God to sort out their opponents, but they didn’t. They simply asked God for more boldness so that they could continue their ministry, and they prayed for yet more miraculous signs and wonders. The pressure of the authorities wasn’t going to silence them for a moment. I have had the privilege of meeting with a number of Christians who have suffered greatly for their faith. During the communist era, I visited Romania and met Christians who faced repeated threats because of their faith. In Pakistan, I recall meeting a man who had been rejected by his family and thrown out of his village when he became a Christian. He had been threatened with death if he returned. I have so much respect for those who have had to exhibit real courage and boldness to maintain their Christian witness. Such threats are not typical of our society, but it still requires considerable boldness to speak up for Jesus when people are instinctively suspicious and even nervous of those who have strong religious convictions. We need to pray for godly boldness so that we speak up for the Lord, whatever reaction we face. Question Do you consider that you need more boldness to speak about your faith? Prayer Loving God, help me to share the good news with grace and boldness. Amen
July 28 · 2 min
July 28th - Acts 4:18-20
Acts 4:18-20 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied: “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” The miraculous healing of the lame man attracted great attention, so Peter found himself with a further opportunity to speak to the crowd. He explained that the healing had been done in the name of Jesus. This was too much for the Jewish authorities, who were desperate to find a way to shut Peter up. He responded by making it clear that if it was a choice between obeying the Jewish council or obeying God, he would choose God. Nothing would be able to stop him from witnessing about his faith in Jesus. It is worth reminding ourselves that this bold, confident speaker is the Peter who only a few weeks before had denied ever knowing Jesus. He was clearly a changed man and his pathetic denials were a thing of the past. In Romans 13, Paul teaches that we should all submit to the governing authorities which derive their authority from God. However, when rulers abuse their power and stand in the way of God, our duty is to obey God. In many countries today, to obey God is to stand in opposition to the government. May God grant them and us the boldness to obey Him, however great the cost might be. Question What would you do if you were told to disobey God? Pray Lord God, help all Christians today to stand strongly for You, however high the price. Amen
July 27 · 2 min
July 27th - Acts 3:4-6
Acts 3:4-6 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said: “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said: “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” At 3pm one afternoon, Peter and John went up to the temple for the service at which one of the daily sacrifices was made. As they walked through one of the city gates, they met a beggar who was strategically placed to receive people’s money as they came to worship. Peter told him that he didn’t have any money, but in the name of Jesus he healed the man. With these few words, Peter made it plain that what he was doing was continuing the ministry of Jesus who, only a few weeks before, had walked through these same streets. Nearly 2,000 years have passed, but it is still our privilege to continue the ministry of Jesus on earth. In the name of Jesus, we can pray for people and seek their salvation and healing. We need to find a new boldness to speak out in the name of Jesus and to offer them the life that He came to bring. So often the Church has hidden away its message of good news, which is the exact opposite of what Jesus asked us to do! Jesus is still telling us to go, with His risen authority, and share His life with others. Question In what way does Peter’s boldness challenge you? Prayer Lord God, I thank you for Peter’s example. Help me to find many opportunities to bring Your healing and salvation to others. Amen
July 26 · 3 min
July 26th - Proverbs 21:26
Proverbs 21:26 All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing. Longing for more money and possessions is a terrible disease, but our materialistic society is built on the assumption that this is how we should all live. Long ago, the Greek philosopher Epicurus wrote: “Nothing is enough to the man for whom enough is too little.” The place of true peace and contentment is where you know you have enough and have no desire to find more. God’s desire for us is that our focus should never be upon seeking to acquire more, but to become better at giving. I love seeing generosity, and I hope that I am always learning from the example of others. I have a friend who always carries a significant number of bank notes with him. The explanation he gave me was this: “You never know when the Lord might give you the opportunity to bless another person.” I love that! He not only has a generous heart but has the money in the right place to be able to act. Of course, generosity isn’t all about money, but the way in which we use our money will often reveal what is going on in our hearts. What is exciting is that God makes it possible for us to always be generous. Paul wrote: “You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion” (2 Corinthians 9:11). Living generously is the most exciting way to live. It may or may not involve money, but we can be sure that God will always make it possible for us to be generous. Question In what ways can you be generous today? Prayer Loving Father, help me to live more generously as I get to know You better. Amen
July 25 · 2 min
July 25th - Proverbs 21:23
Proverbs 21:23 Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity. Speaking is such a huge part of our daily lives that we need all the wisdom we can find to guide us. The book of Proverbs comes back to the subject time and again, precisely because it is so important. We need to be constantly learning how to use our tongues more effectively, and part of that is to learn when to speak and when to be silent. Benjamin Franklin wrote: “Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.” Those are wise words. The trouble with speaking is that we do so much of it, and it just happens. It normally isn’t the product of a long process of reflection – we just open our mouths and the words flow out. The writer of the Proverbs is clearly encouraging us to put more thinking into our talking. He commands us to watch our tongue, and that clearly involves reflecting on what we are saying and how we are saying it. This is undoubtedly best done prayerfully, before God. As we do so, we need to reflect not only on our choice of words but also on those times when not saying anything at all would have been the best response! Questions What might help you to use your tongue more effectively, and can you think of times when silence would have been the better response? Prayer Lord God, thank you for the gift of my tongue. Help me to use it in a way that will constantly be helpful and encouraging to other people. Amen
July 24 · 2 min
July 24th - Proverbs 21:3
Proverbs 21:3 To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. The offering of sacrifices lay right at the heart of Old Testament worship. Strange as it may seem to us, it was what God wanted from His people. This led many to conclude that all they needed to do was offer sacrifices, and they could then act in whatever way they wanted. Time and again, God had to remind His people that the mere offering of sacrifices and worship was not enough. He was looking for them to act justly and fairly in their business relationships and with their neighbours, and if He didn’t see it, He wasn’t interested in receiving their sacrifices. In any age it is possible for our worship to be merely an act. Almost anyone can sing hymns and songs and even raise their hands in worship. What God is looking for is people who live out their faith in the cut and thrust of everyday life. In James’ letter, he is supremely concerned about people living out their Christian faith in a practical and down-to-earth way. He wrote: “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (James 1:27). I believe that God wants us to enjoy worshipping Him and having fellowship with other Christians, but if our faith never leads to action then we have totally missed the point. Question In what way is God calling you to fight for what is just and right? Prayer Loving God, thank you for the privilege of worshipping. Please help me to ensure that my worship always leads to actions that will please You. Amen

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